Improved vinegar-apparatus



"To all whom it may concern:

at-cnt @Milice A. n. s'rnoNG',

.menigte-ULA, oHIo.

Letters Patent No. 97,987, dated December 14, 1869.

IMPROVED VINEG-R-APPARATUS.

'lhe Schedule referred to'in these Letters Patent and making part:A of the same.

Be it known that I, A. D. STRONG, of Ashtabula, `in the oo unty of Ashtabula, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and `useful Improvements in Vinegar-Apparatus; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and complete description of the saine, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, making a part o'f this specification, in which- Figure l is a front view of the inside of the apparatus.

" Figure2, Va side view of the same.

Figure 3, a detached section;

Like letters of reference refer to like partsin the `several views.

This invention has for its object the conversion of cider, diluted spirits, or other like liquids, into vinegar,yby causing the `same to flow over broad surfaces, consisting of a series of shelves, as hereinafter more Vfully described.

In fig. 1, A represents an oblong square case or box,- 1n which is arranged a, series of shelves, 15, one

i above the other, in` the order as shown. A detached view of one such shelf is shown in iig. 3, in which it will be seeny that along one edge, and both ends ofthe shelf is cut a channel or groove, G. The longitudinal section of said channel is reversed in each shelf.. Thus the groove of the first or uppermost shelf is at the inner edge, at a, whereas the groove ill the second shelf is at the front edge b, the third at the back, and the fourth at the front, like unto the first, and .so ou through the` entire range of shelves, be they meteor ess.

It will be observed that each alternate shelf is in- 'clined downward at the front side, whereas each other alternate one is inclined downward at theinner side, as shown in iig.`2, a section of the side of the casebeing represented as heilig broken away, in order that it may be seen. i

1 The practical operation of this apparatus is as folows: l

The case is closed tightly by a cover, fitted to the front or open side. The cider, diluted spirits, or other liquid 'toV be converted into vinegar, is then poured into the case, through a hole in the top, which, as it runs in, fills the trough E, fig. l, over which it Hows slowly, and trickles' down and drops upon the first shelf B, which being slanting, allows it to flow over and back to the channel or groove C, at the inner edge of the shelf, over which it flows, andthrough the pin-holes, down the pins a, from which it drops upon the second shelf, spreading over the same, and owing forward to the front, by virtue of `the grade of the shelf, which, also, being provided with a groove, is filled therewith, and escapes therefrom partially by overflowing, and by percolating through the holes, in

` which the pinsare loosely' fitted, down which it runs and drops on to the third shelf, owing back thereon to the inner side, as before, and so `on through the entire range of shelves to the last, from which it falls into a trough or conductor, F, thence to the outside of the box, and received'into appropriate vessels, completely acidified and ready for iuunediate use, a good article of vinegar.

It ywill'be obvious that by this arrangement of Vshelves and pins, the cider, in its lpassage over them,

is diffused over a very large surface, and thereby exposed lnore directly vand intimately to the. aciditying-principle of the air, and thus facilitating its absorption of oxygen, ,and the formation of acetic acid;,

hence the chemical change in the nature of the cider to that of vinegar is accomplished in a few hours.

The apparatus, after being iu use for a time, becomes surcharged with acetic acid, by the shelves and pins becoming saturated therewith. ln consequence thereof, the transmutation of Cider to vinegar is greatly facilitated, and the process being conducted in a close case, Ait is accomplished with neatness and au avoid.- ance ofinsects. What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A vinegar-apparatus, constructed with broad, slanting shelves B,provided with marginal grooves or channels O, pins l1, and case A, in the manner substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

, A. D. STRONG.

Witnesses:

W. H. BURRIDGE, J. H. BURRIDGE. 

